I started my car this morning. Clutch in, no throttle.
Heavy white smoke came out for a couple of seconds and filled my garage.
What is that all about?
Everything else seems normal.

 

Normal for a flat engine that hasn't been run for a while. Nothing to be worried about.

 

Funny that I don't feel so bad when I hear it's normal from a board member.
19,000 miles and I've never had that happen. Why now?

I just called the service guy @ Champion and he said the same thing. But it worries me hearing 'it's normal' from him!

Anybody out there have it happen once and never again?

 

Mine will go for months without doing it, and then it will do it every morning for awhile, and then stop again. I am guessing that the rings line up just right to let a little bit more oil pool in one of the cylinders.

Interestingly enough, mine only does it on the right bank.

 

Unless it lasts for more than a few seconds, it's nothing to worry about. I've heard this reported in 911's going back to the 70's!

 

It is NOT normal to have that much smoke upon startup. It might be common but it is not normal. It means that you have oil passing by the piston rings into the combustion chamber. Those who say it is NORMAL are often trying to justify the same problem in their car because they don't have an answer. I have NEVER had a flat 6 (or any engine) burn oil, but I properly break in the engine from the start. Follow the Porsche recommended break in and you are more likely than not to experience this problem.

Is the smoke damaging to the engine....most likely not, but it can be embarassing. There is no fix for the problem short of engine rebuilding.

 

I followed the breaking period as recommended and I occasionally have the smoke but, I noticed it happens after I top my oil up the maximum line on the dipstick. I started topping it off just a little below max or two bars on electronic dipstick and haven't noticed the smoke anymore.
I do agree it is not normal, but what can you do?

 

Yep, same issue here. Happens when the oil level is high, or when the car was run hard the previous outing (even allowing for cooldown before turning off the engine).

My last track day, every time I restarted the engine, I got a HUGE plume of smoke.

When I asked the dealer tech, he told me "well, what you've got there is basically a de-tuned race car engine." I laugh about that to this day.

So, it's not good, but it's probably not harmful. It's intermittent, but somewhat reproducible. Don't sweat it.

 

I also leave in South Florida and my 996 is a third car. It gets driven once or twice a week. When starting the car after it has sat for a couple of days, I get the white smoke in the morning and then no issues for the rest of the day. I have not spoken to Louis or Danny at Champion and never thought of it until now. However both of them at Champion have been straigh up guys and have never given me bad advice.

 

One theory is that oil pools after high G runs and loads up in cylinder This is analagous to oil starvation, usually on the 4-6 side and during long left handers. I agree it is common but it is not normal.